Garment-protector



v E. E. PITLER. GARMENT PROTECTOR.

No. 503,841. Patented Aug" 22, 1893.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD E. FITLER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

GARM ENT-PROTECTO R.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 503,841, dated August 22, 1893.

Application tiled May 5, 1893. Serial No. 47 3,076. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD E. FITLER, of the city of Philadelphia and State of Pennsyl- Vania, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Garment-Protectors, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a garment protector of that class used bybicycle riders to protect the pantaloons legs from injury while riding, and is one of that general class which by encircling the limb at a point just above the ankle will keep the lower end of the pantaloons folded tightly around the leg.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a view illustrating a garment protector constructed in accordance with my invention illustrating its position and function when in use. Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the same, and Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3, Fig. 2.

The protector comprises a single clrcular strip of sheet metal of an inherently elastic nature; the opposite ends of the band are provided with lips, or, adapted to extend over portions of the bodyof the band in such manner that the diameter of the band may be enlarged or contracted, and yet, to all intents and purposes, it will form a practically solid ring, and when in position completely encircle the pantaloons keeping them folded tightly around the leg, the elasticity of the band being sufficient to tightly compress the folded end of the pantaloons against the leg and prevent release without the use of the hand for the purpose. The lips, a, engaging the main body of the hand between their inner surface and the surface of the end of the band in which they are formed operate as a guide to retain the respective ends in their relative positions to the main body of the band and being open at the bottom allow of their ready disengagement from the band proper when desired.

The encircling band is preferably fiat so as to present a fairly broad surface to the material of the trousers legs, and to assist in retaining them neatly in their folded position, as shown in Fig. 1. The lips, a, illustrated as downwardly projecting in the drawings are constructed integral with the band proper. By the construction described not onlya most rigid and substantial protector is produced, but the construction also admits of the entire protector band and lips being stamped from one piece of metal ata single operation, and the lips turned down and the whole completed at another.

I am thus enabled to reduce the cost of construction to a minimum and to place the protector upon the market at a nominal figure. The lips, a, are bent substantially at right angles to the face of the band for a distance equal to the thickness of the band. and then again bent down parallel with the face of said band, with the inner surface of the lip impinging against the inner face of the band.

A further advantage obtained by the use of a protector of this character is that all danger of accidental loss is averted as the looking lips engaging with the band will effectually prevent the removal of the protector until the lips are entirely disengaged from the body of the band.

To place the protector in position, or to remove it, it is simply necessary to disengage the lips, when the band may be opened out sufficientlyto be passed around the leg, or, if the band he of sufficient length, it may he slipped on and olf over the shoe without disengaging such lips.

The device forming this invention may also be used to advantage as a sleeve holder, or for other analogous purposes.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

A garment protector comprising an overlapping encircling band of inherently elastic material, presenting a smooth flat interior and exterior face, flattened lips, 01., formed integral with the said band at the respective ends thereof, the inner face of said lips impinging against the flattened face of said band and open at the end to allow of disengagement from the band, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 4th day of May, A. D. 1893.

EDWARD E. FITLER.

Witnesses:

I-I. GORDON McCoUcH, J NO. E. PARKER. 

